TABLE OF CONTENTS In this section we want to discuss some issues of middleware for future computing environments known under the term "ubiquitous computing" (ubicomp). We will first introduce ubiquitous computing in Section 10.3.1, before discussing peculiarities and challenges of ubicomp with respect to middleware in Section 10.3.2. In Section 10.3.3 we want to present a study of middleware for a subdomain of ubiquitous computing known as sensor networks.
The term "ubiquitous computing" was coined by Mark Weiser in his 1991 seminal article [38]. He envisioned a world of ubiquitous computers that become invisible by being embedded into the physical environment with the goal of supporting people unobtrusively in fulfilling their tasks.
Networked, embedded computers equipped with sensors and actuators One example for an application of ubiquitous computing would be a smart room allocation system, where chairs are able to sense their occupancy status and use this information to automatically derive the occupancy level of the room, which is then displayed at the electronic door plate and by a central "room finder" in the hallway.
This simple example already illustrates a number of technological features of the "ubiquitous computer." It consists of numerous, highly specialized wireless computing devices embedded into our physical environment. These devices can perceive and control certain parameters of their physical environment and can communicate with each other. They use ergonomic, intuitive, and unobtrusive ways of interacting with people.
Moore's law Recent technological advances in six important areas enable...
